When Meagan Parisi and Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele decided to collaborate, it was essential that they tap a special individual to complete their triad of fermentation domination, and they found just that in Tonya Cornett, the brewmaster at Bend, Oregon's 10 Barrel Brewing Company. Together, they decided on a sturdy yet velvety base of imperial porter and developed a plan to celebrate the bounty of the environs in which it was produced by harvesting avocado honey, jasmine and calendula flowers (some from our very own Stone Farms) and infusing them into the beer to create something complex and uniquely Southern Californian. Consider it craft cross-pollination at its finest.

Black in color but you will see some light getting through when held up to light. There's just a minuscule bit of cream colored head covering half of the top of the beer. I get a bit of the flowers with dark malt, black licorice, and faint jasmine in the aroma. Mouthfeel is silky and creamy. I detect the dark malt throughout the taste. I get just a bit of the flowers and jasmine. I think the honey adds sweetness and the smoothness to the mouthfeel,but not the flavor. As I continue drinking the brew I get a moderate aftertaste of the flowers that is a bit distracting. (573 characters)

Taste: Like the smell hints at, a sweet and roasty imperial porter taste with notes of chocolate, coffee, honey, and flowers. Dark roasted barley malts with upfront notes of dark chocolate, coffee roast, toasted bread, biscuit, cream, caramel, toffee, grains, yeast, and nuts. Sweet taste of the added honey comes through along with some molasses. Light note of anise spicing. Floral and herbal notes from the added flowers. Solid dark fruit undertones with notes of dark grapes, raisin, fig, plums, prune, and cherry. Light hop presence in the background. The flowers and honey come out more as it warms. A very solid taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Very creamy, silky, and smooth. Sweet but finishes somewhat dry. Alcohol heat is hidden well.

Overall: A very solid imperial porter. Has the roasty flavors you expect. The honey and flowers add a nice kick. (1,699 characters)